Isaac Herzog

Isaac Herzog assumed the office amid the COVID pandemic, followed by judicial reform unrest, and a multi-front war. Now he has the challenge of whether to pardon Benjamin Netanyahu.

Trump invited the prime minister to a meeting at the White House in the near future during the call, according to the Prime Minister's Office.

Israel deserves a legitimate October 7 inquiry and new elections, amid dramatic efforts to make amends and heal wounds.

Seeking a pardon before a verdict – particularly when the defendant is the prime minister – creates an extraordinary situation that could destabilize the relations between the branches of government.

It would be in Israel’s best interests to grant the request on the condition that Netanyahu agrees to finish out his present term and retire from politics. 

“It is clear to me that the issue of the pardon is shaking many people in the country; it will be handled in the best possible way," Herzog stated

Prosecutor Tirosh focused questioning on Case 4000 discrepancies, comparing Netanyahu's description of Walla news site during his tenure vs. his current court testimony.

Legal experts argue that using presidential clemency before a verdict would overturn long-standing norms that reserve pardons for those who have accepted responsibility.

Attorney Kobi Sudri discussed the matter on 103FM with hosts Anat Davidov and Prof. Aryeh Eldad, raising doubts about the legal validity and intent behind the pardon request.

With the haredi draft and West Bank annexation alone, there are major issues on the table to be faced in the future.

Netanyahu’s request for a pardon forces Israel to confront a decade of legal battles and the question of whether extending the trial is in the public's best interest.